The government of the Maharashtra says it plans to build a statue of Shivaji off the coast of 'amchi mumbai' which, when completed will rival New York's Statue of Liberty.

The statue will be built on a man-made island, which will include a library, a museum and an amphitheatre.

The project is mindbogglingly expensive at an initial price of more than $4.5 million.

Vishal Dhage, a state government official, said the statue would be about the same height as the Statue of Liberty - which, with plinth included, stands at 305 ft (92.69m).

Remember this post where I'd pointed out the rise of the east?? Well this just goes on to prove it, in a weird contorted sort of way. The state-government-appointed committee selected the off-shore site near Marine Drive, which is also known as the Queen's Necklace because of its line of street lights.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, has reiterated promises that the statue would eventually be erected.

Mr Deshmukh said that when it was completed, the statue would be an important tourist spot, with sound and light shows to explain the importance of the warrior king.

Officials say the statue will be made of the finest bronze and may be built by a sculptor specialising in Shivaji statues.

Moves to erect the statue have been described, by critics, as a ploy to win local support ahead of elections next year.They say that the government of the western Indian state faces more pressing problems, such as a food, water and power crisis in addition to a high suicide level among farmers.

Well I agree...... Whats more important people?? A statue or food for the citizens of this state which on one hand is the financial capital, but on the other hand is home to the largest slum in the world!! Its always kind of irritating, how Maharashtra compares itself (or atleast tries to do so) with tourism destinations which frankly cannot even be minutely compared to Mumbai. A few years ago, it was Shanghai, now New York?? Ha Ha Ha..... Politicians of Mumbai, get a life!!